[Person Focus] Seo Wang-jin, Policy Committee Chair of the Joguk Innovation Party

Representative Jo Guk Introduced as a 'Dignified and Professional Policy Expert' During Talent Recruitment

Over 10 Years of Environmental Expertise... Transformed into a Policy Expert After Late Overseas Study

Former Director of Seoul Think

A new term, 'Jimin-Bijo' (a portmanteau of the Democratic Party for local constituencies and the Innovation Party for proportional representation), has emerged as attention focuses on the Innovation Party ahead of the 22nd National Assembly elections. Among them, former Seoul Institute Director Seo Wang-jin, appointed as the party's Policy Committee Chair, is attracting attention.

The Innovation Party recruited former Seoul Institute Director Seo Wang-jin as its third talent acquisition on the 5th. At that time, Innovation Party leader Jo Guk introduced Seo as a "dignified and professional policy expert."

Seo Wang-jin, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the National Innovation Party (right in the photo), and Representative Jo Guk.

He added, "He has long been engaged in academic activities and has administrative experience as the director of the Seoul Institute. Not to mention his experience in civil society as the representative of Environmental Justice, he also served as the standing committee chair of the Great Transition Forum in the policy field. We intend to entrust Dr. Seo Wang-jin with the Innovation Party's policies," expressing unlimited trust.

Policy Chair Seo, originally from Yeonggwang County, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Seoul National University, earned a master's degree in Urban Environmental Policy from the University of Seoul, and obtained a doctorate from the University of Delaware in the United States. He is praised for having both sufficient academic knowledge and field experience, having served as the director of the Environmental Justice Research Institute.

In the early 2000s, when the issue of uncontrolled development in Yongin was severe, he led a "tree-top protest," living for 16 days in the trees to protect Daeji Mountain in Jukjeon, Yongin, which was threatened by development. He was an environmental activist who helped preserve Daeji Mountain and turn it into a park for local residents.

He then transformed into a policy researcher. After more than ten years of civic environmental activism, he invested his entire deposit to study abroad in the United States to deepen his knowledge of environmental issues. In 2010, he earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Energy Policy from the University of Delaware and returned to Korea. Subsequently, he began research activities focusing on international politics surrounding climate change at the Seoul National University Institute of International Affairs.

From 2011, he served as a policy advisor and chief of staff to the Seoul mayor, overseeing comprehensive policy advice and assisting the mayor, thus participating in overall Seoul city administration.

During his tenure as director of the Seoul Institute, Seoul's think tank, he proposed the "Fine Dust Season System" policy to address the national challenge of fine dust pollution. This policy was adopted not only by Seoul but also by the central government, becoming a core policy known as the "Seasonal Fine Dust Management System."

Additionally, he promoted innovative urban policies such as the "Reduce One Nuclear Power Plant" campaign, the expansion project of the public bicycle system "Ddareungi," and "Seoullo 7017," contributing to Seoul's sustainable development.

These projects significantly contributed to Seoul winning the prestigious global urban innovation award, the "Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize," in 2018.

Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as a member of the Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee, participating in the 2050 carbon neutrality initiative and the formulation of South Korea's 2030 carbon reduction plan (2030 NDC). He also chaired the Gyeonggi Province Climate Response and Industrial Transition Special Committee and provided advisory roles for RE100 research, actively engaging in policy formulation and implementation in the climate and energy sectors.

He also played a role as a comprehensive researcher and coordinator for key national tasks and served as the senior deputy head overseeing and coordinating policy pledges for the Democratic Party's central election campaign headquarters during the 20th presidential election. Those around him agree that through these experiences, he has enhanced his understanding of overall national tasks and developed the ability to assess various political elements inherent in individual policies.

Chair Seo stated, "As a climate energy expert, I will act strongly to stop the ignorant and incompetent governance of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which is driving our companies and economy into crisis due to the derailment of carbon neutrality policies," and expressed his ambition to "lead the development and realization of the Innovation Party's innovative policies."

Meanwhile, Chair Seo is expected to run as a proportional representation candidate for the Innovation Party in the upcoming 22nd general election.